There is growing international pressure to curb the offensive that has so far killed nearly 22,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority women and children. Even Israel's staunchest ally, the US, which rejects calls for a ceasefire, has started pushing the government to scale back the ferocity of its attacks.
Plans to send some reservists home from Gaza marked the start of a new stage in the war, an official told Reuters, and could be presented as a partial response to those demands.
But Israel still expects heavy fighting in Gaza for much of 2024 as it hunts for senior Hamas leaders.
"This will take six months at least, and involve intense mopping up missions against the terrorists. No one is talking about doves of peace being flown from Shejaiya," the official said, referring to a Gaza district where heavy battles have occurred.
Not all the troops returned from Gaza would go home; some would be prepared for going to the northern border with Lebanon, amid fears of a wider escalation of the conflict.
"The situation on the Lebanese front will not be allowed to continue.
This coming six-month period is a critical moment," the official said, adding that Israel would convey a similar message to a US envoy conducting shuttle missions to Beirut.
Denne historien er fra January 02, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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Denne historien er fra January 02, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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